Meiosis I - MeiosisI

Meiosis I At the beginning of meiosis 1, a human cell contains 46 chromosomes, or 92 chromatids (the same number as during mitosis). Meiosis I proceeds through the following phases: • Prophase I: Prophase I is similar in some ways to prophase in mitosis. The chromatids shorten and thicken and become visible under a microscope. An important difference, however, is that a process called synapsis occurs. A second process called crossing over also takes place during prophase 1. During prophase 1, the two homologous chromosomes come near each other. Because each homologous chromosome consists of two chromatids, there are actually four chromatids aligned next to one another. This combination of four chromatids is called a tetrad , and the coming together is the process called synapsis . After synapsis has taken place, the process of crossing over occurs. In this process,

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